Noah Lyles Just Did The Impossible: He Broke Michael Johnson’s 200m Re
Noah Lyles defeated South African Wayde van Niekerk to take the gold medal in the 200m race at the 2022 USA Track and Field Championships. In doing so, he not only won his first major title but also broke Michael Johnson’s 20-year-old record of 19.32 seconds—a truly astounding accomplishment by any measure, except perhaps by Michael Johnson’s own standard of 19.32 seconds set in 1996. Here’s how the prodigal son did it.
Watch the race
On Saturday, June 30th, 2018, at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, 21-year-old Noah Lyles broke the world record in the 200m with a time of 19.69 seconds. This was .02 seconds faster than the previous record set by Michael Johnson in 1996. The race was electric, with both athletes giving it their all. In the end, Lyles came out on top, cementing his place as one of the greatest sprinters of all time.
Let it sink in
It’s been over two decades since Michael Johnson set the world record in the 200m. In that time, many have come close to breaking it, but none has succeeded until now. On July 20th, 2018, at the USATF Outdoor Championships, Noah Lyles broke Johnson’s record with a time of 19.69 seconds.
Recognize the greatness of this moment
It was an electric moment- one that will go down in the history books. Noah Lyles had just run the race of his life, shattering Michael Johnson’s longstanding 200m record. The crowd went wild as they watched the young sprinter cross the finish, line in the first place. This was a momentous achievement not only for Lyles but for the sport of track and field as a whole. It proved that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and work hard.
See who else they beat on their way to history
On his way to the record, Lyles beat out some of the biggest names in track and field. He crossed the finish line ahead of world-renowned sprinters like Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin. This was a true David and Goliath moment, with Lyles emerging victorious against all odds.
Take stock of how far we’ve come
In 1996, Michael Johnson ran the 200m in 19.32 seconds, setting a world record that would stand for over a decade. In 2006, Usain Bolt ran the 100m in 9.69 seconds, setting a world record that still stands today. And in 2018, Noah Lyles ran the 200m in 19.08 seconds, shattering Johnson’s record and cementing his place as one of the greatest sprinters of all time.
